Patriot Parents,
Just a reminder that the Marion School District welcomes your input as we prepare for the 2020-2021 school year. Please take a few minutes to answer questions to help us improve our schools' parent and family engagement plans. This survey will close on Friday, May 15, 2020. Thanks! Click this link to give us your input. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6aGiH30jCeaaRMSUAHhFKT696FToBfxXN42M7Sl4Noo-0lg/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1
Greetings Patriots,
As previously promised, we are offering this update to our April 17 memo regarding 2020 MHS Prom and Graduation.
Please note a summary of the latest directive dated April 26 from the Arkansas Department of Education re. 2020 Graduation-“Traditional high school graduation ceremonies are restricted until July 1 at the earliest. As we have throughout this emergency, we will review data and reevaluate the situation as we approach July 1 and continue to make decisions based on current public health data.”
Plainly, ADE is NOT guaranteeing the ability to hold a traditional Graduation ceremony in July. They are simply establishing that July 1 is the earliest date that they will allow for planning such an event.
In accord with the April 26 ADE directive MHS Principal Paul Johnston and his staff have set Saturday, July 11 as proposed date for Prom and Thursday, July 16 at 10:00 a.m. as a proposed date and time for our traditional Graduation Ceremony. With this plan we are taking the liberty of extending the ADE guidelines for Graduation- to include Prom as well.
In early July we will reevaluate the proposed date(s) for both events in accord with the most current ADE directives for such , and make appropriate decisions regarding moving forward at that point.
Regardless of the final outcome of the traditional Graduation event, we do plan to release the Virtual Graduation video on July 16.
Please keep in mind that we are dealing with circumstances well beyond our control. However, we do sincerely hope that this plan provides for both Prom and Graduation in their traditional formats to become realities for our 2020 MHS Seniors.
Go Pats!
Dr. Glen Fenter, Superintendent
Congratulations to our District Teacher of the Year!
Congratulations to MJHS's Teacher of the Year!
Congratulations to MHS's Teacher of the Year!
Congratulations to HCGC's Teacher of the Year!
Congratulations to VPA's Teacher of the Year!
Parents, the Marion School District welcomes your input as we prepare for the 2020-2021 school year. Please take a few minutes to answer questions to help us improve our schools' parent and family engagement plans. This survey will close on Friday, May 15, 2020. Thanks!
Click this link to give us your input.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6aGiH30jCeaaRMSUAHhFKT696FToBfxXN42M7Sl4Noo-0lg/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1
Shout Out to MSD Child Nutrition and those that help them with deliveries. For the month of April a total of 24,013 meals were given out to children. This number is breakfast and lunch combined. If you know anyone serving our students give them a virtual pat on the back or virtual high five and let them know they are appreciated.
A reminder for Patriot Parents/Guardian: Completed paper packets for days 1-10 can be turned in at the main office of the building where your student attends on Tuesday, May 5th from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm. This is the final day paper packets for days 1-10 will be accepted. Stay safe, stay healthy, and GO PATS!
We love and appreciate our administrators. ❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙
HCGC Mrs. Salter Mad Science Lab: Virtual Experiement
Mrs. Salter wanted to share with MSD some pictures from a live science experiment she did with my 4th grade students last Friday.
When you have no classroom to teach in you have to get creative!
HCGC 4th graders were told to choose between 4 color tops to see which shape would create the tallest geyser! Students voted and picked the blue top to win!
Their hypothesis was incorrect as they came to the conclusion that the red top created the tallest geyser!
This was so fun and she's so glad she was able to support one of Marion's local businesses The Merry Magnolia owned by Tara McKenzie Barton by buying this fun product!
First layer complete and it's beautiful! It won't be long before Patriot Stadium welcomes MSD students and community members back. Stay safe and healthy Patriot Nation!
Gov. Hutchinson: No high school graduation ceremonies prior to July 1 by Michael Tilley
Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Saturday (April 25) that traditional high school graduation ceremonies will not be allowed prior to July 1. Arkansas Department of Education officials also are reviewing options in the event it is not safe to fully open schools in the fall.
The governor and Arkansas Department of Education Secretary Johnny Key said during Saturday’s COVID-19 press conference they know the delay is disappointing to many, but is necessary for public safety.
“I’m very sympathetic because I have a granddaughter who is a senior in high school this year. But it’s really a risk whenever you bring thousands of parents and students together in one assembly to have a celebration, and that’s exactly the kind of gathering that could lead to a spread of COVID-19,” Gov. Hutchinson said.
Key said he would “encourage” school districts to wait until after July 1, but the department is open to alternative graduation plans. He said the department will contact superintendents this upcoming week to let them know how to submit proposals.
“There are a number of techniques that schools have already started exploring to see how they could make this happen as a celebration for their seniors, at the same time, taking into consideration and following our social distancing protocols, the restrictions of congregant gatherings of 10 or more people,” Key said.
He also said the department will continue to monitor data and work the Arkansas Department of Health to consider any modifications to the July 1 order. He also said social distancing guidelines and other directives issued by the governor will prevent private schools from having a traditional graduation.
Education officials and educators also are preparing options in the event COVID-19 spread remains a public health crisis when schools should open in the fall.
“We have teams of teachers we brought together, and principals and superintendents, that are planning out different scenarios and possibilities. It is something that we are looking at and hopefully we’ll be presenting the governor with options coming up in the next couple of weeks,” Key said.
Gov. Hutchinson said the “first option” is to have schools open as normal, but it’s important to have other options in place.
COVID CASES
Known COVID-19 cases in Arkansas totaled 2,830, as of Saturday afternoon, up from 2,741 on Friday. Of the 89 new cases between Friday and Saturday, 47 were inmates in the Cummins state prison.
Of the total of cases, 1,813 are active, with the remainder accounting for deaths and recoveries. The number of deaths rose from 46 to 49. The number of COVID patients hospitalized in Arkansas was 104 on Saturday, unchanged from Friday. Of the COVID-19 patients, 22 were on ventilators, down from 25 on Friday.
As of Saturday at 1 p.m., there were 924,376 U.S. cases and 52,782 deaths. Globally, there were 2,865,938 cases and 200,698 deaths.
While we are all safe at home the resurfacing of the MSD Patriot Stadium continues. It’ll be ready for our students and community once it’s safe and we’ve been given the ok by the head of the district facilities and our local government. Go Patriots! ❤️🤍💙
We love you all! ❤️❤️
Just a reminder, meals will not be provided until Friday. Beginning yesterday, meals will only go out on Tuesdays and Fridays. Tuesdays drop off provides breakfast and lunch to cover Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Then on Fridays drop off the meals cover breakfast and lunch for Friday and Monday.
COVID-19 for Kids.
A great infographic to explain to our kids about the COVID-19 virius.
Paper packets for the months of April and May are now available at the central administration office and at all bus stops where food is being delivered. They will be given out on a first come first served basis and will be available until the end of the school year.
As a reminder paper packets for days 1-10 can be turned in on Tuesday's from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm at the building your student attends.
Please continue to check our website for the latest information concerning online AMI.
Be Safe, Stay Healthy, GO PATRIOTS!
